MoMileSplit: State Champion as a freshman and then a couple of 3rd place finishes your sophomore and junior years, I imagine you are pretty determined this season?
Courtney: I am very determined this season. I have been extremely blessed in my high school career. I came in with a bang and plan on going out with one.
MoMileSplit: How do you feel about your season so far?
Courtney: So far my season has gone exactly as expected, if not even better. I had a major PR pretty early on and have stayed healthy and strong, so I am definitely looking forward to Hesse next few meets to see what I can do.
MoMileSplit: Who has influenced you the most so far in your life and what they mean to you and your success?
Courtney: My family, my team, and my coaches have been the most influential people in my life. Without my parent’s sacrifices and my team and coach’s devotion and encouragement, I would not be half the person I am today.
MoMileSplit: How did winning a state championship in track this spring motivate your summer training for XC?
Courtney: Winning both the 4x8 and the mile this past year in track made me realize what I was truly capable of if I just set my mind to it and not let my mind get in the way. I realized that I could push way farther through my mental blocks than I ever thought possible, and that helped a lot when I thought about racing further distances. It was extremely encouraging.
MoMileSplit Your favorite past performance in a cross country race and why?
Courtney: My favorite past performance in a cross country race was probably Joplin this year. I raced exactly how my coach told me to, really pushing that middle mile, and I came in third with a solid PR.
MoMileSplit What is your greatest non-running experience in cross country so far and why?
Courtney: My greatest non-running experience in cross country is pretty much every day with my team and my coaches. My team is my family and I love them all to death. We have so much fun together and we are all so close it's unbelievable. There is no way I could pick a specific time. However, I really enjoy our theme days. We have Harry Potter Mondays, Tupac Tuesdays, Classy Wednesdays, Parkour Thursdays, and Fun Run Fridays.
The Fun Run
MoMileSplit What music do you rock while working out?
Courtney: I rarely work out with music, but when I do I listen to fast songs with good beats that I can run to.
MoMileSplit Do you like to run in the mud or the grass?
Courtney: I absolutely adore running in mud, just not in races. My teammates and I will come back covered in it all the time.
MoMileSplit Do you hang out on Facebook or Twitter?
Courtney: I hang out on Facebook and Twitter.
MoMileSplit Do you like going out or chilling at home?
Courtney: I like doing both. I go out with my team a lot and we usually have team bonding nights.
MoMileSplit What gear is your favorite while running?
Courtney: My favorite thing to run in is probably spandex and dri-fit long sleeve shirts.
